Method and apparatus for managing voicemail messages

ABSTRACT

An apparatus ( 100, 200 ) and method are disclosed for managing voicemail messages. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a voicemail system ( 100 ) having a communications interface ( 110 ) and a controller ( 102 ) for managing operations of the communications interface. The controller is programmed to store ( 310 ) voicemail messages corresponding to a communication device ( 102 ), transmit ( 316 ) a log of the voicemail messages to the communication device, and receive ( 318 ) from the communication device a request to delete a voicemail message selectively chosen from a user interface corresponding to the voicemail log. The present disclosure further describes embodiments for the communication device.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to voicemail processing, andmore specifically to a method and apparatus for managing voicemailmessages.

BACKGROUND

Voicemail systems have provided end users a means for staying in touchwhile in transit, or simply when unavailable. These systems, however,require the end user to access voicemail messages to manage its storage.A need therefore arises for an improved method and apparatus formanaging voicemail messages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a voicemail system and communicationdevices operating in a communication system according to teachings ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the communication device of FIG. 1according to teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method operating in the voicemail systemaccording to teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of a method operating in the communicationdevice according to teachings of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a methodand apparatus for managing voicemail messages.

In a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a voicemail system hasa communications interface, and a controller for managing operationsthereof. The controller is programmed to store voicemail messagescorresponding to a communication device, transmit a log of the voicemailmessages to the communication device, and receive from the communicationdevice a request to delete a voicemail message selectively chosen from auser interface corresponding to the voicemail log.

In a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication devicehas a user interface (UI) element, a transceiver for exchanging messageswith a communication system, and a controller for managing operations ofthe UI element and the transceiver. The controller is programmed toreceive a log of voicemail messages stored in a voicemail system,present the log to an end user, receive from the end user a selection ofa voicemail message from the log for deletion, and transmit to thevoicemail system a request to delete the selected voicemail messagewithout listening to said voicemail message.

In a third embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is presentedfor selectively deleting a voicemail message in a voicemail system froma voicemail log in a communication device.

In a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readablestorage medium operates in a voicemail system. The storage medium hascomputer instructions for deleting a voicemail message in response to arequest received from a communication device to delete said voicemailmessage selectively chosen from a user interface corresponding to avoicemail log.

In a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readablestorage medium operates in a communication device. The storage mediumhas computer instructions for transmitting to a voicemail system arequest to delete a voicemail message selectively chosen from a userinterface corresponding to a voicemail log without listening to saidvoicemail message.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a voicemail system 100 and communicationdevices 108 operating in a communication system 101 according toteachings of the present disclosure. The voicemail system 100 comprisesa communications interface 110, a memory 104 and a controller 102. Thecommunications interface 110 utilizes wired or wireless communicationstechnology for interfacing to the communications network 101. Thecommunications interface 110 can be represented by a circuit switchedand/or a packet switched interface. The controller 102 can utilizecomputing technology such as a scalable server to manage operations ofthe communications interface 110 and a database for storing voicemailmessages corresponding to end users of the communication devices 108according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The voicemailsystem 100 can also operate common applications such as an IVR(Interactive Voice Response) system and/or a CRM (Customer RelationshipManagement) system according to teachings of the present disclosure.

The communication devices 108 can be wireline or wireless devices. In afirst embodiment, the communication device 108 can be represented by aPOTS (Plain Old Telephone Service), or a voice over IP (VOIP)communications device connected by a wire or cordless interface to aPOTS interface. Alternatively, the communication device 108 can berepresented by a single mode or multimode wireless mobile device such asa cell phone capable of cellular, WiFi, or WiMax communications. Thevoicemail system 100 stores voicemail messages when an end user of eachof the foregoing embodiments of the communication device 108 is unable,does not desire, or is out of range to answer an incoming call.

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of the communication device 108 accordingto teachings of the present disclosure. The communication device 108comprises a transceiver 202, a user interface (UI) element 204, and acontroller 214 for controlling operations thereof. The transceiver 202can use common technology for wireline and/or wireless communications tosupport the aforementioned technologies of the communication system 101.The UI element 204 can include among other things a keypad 206, an audiosystem 208, and a display 210. Each of these embodiments can serve as auser interface for manipulating selectable options provided by thecommunication device 108, and for conveying messages to the end useraccording to the present disclosure. The controller 214 can include acomputing device such as a microprocessor, or digital signal processor(DSP) with associated storage devices such as RAM, ROM, DRAM, Flash, andother common memories. For portable applications, the communicationdevice 108 can include a power supply 212 with technology for supplyingenergy to the components of the communication device 108 from one ormore rechargeable batteries, and for recharging said batteries.

The communication system 101 can support wireline and wirelesscommunications by way of hybrid circuit and packet switched technologiesfor interfacing with the communication devices 108. The communicationsystem 101 therefore provides end users of the communication devices 108the ability to perform end-to-end communications according to a givengeographic footprint (e.g., nationwide, statewide, citywide, and so on).

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method 300 operating in the voicemailsystem 100 according to teachings of the present disclosure. Method 300begins with step 302 where the controller 102 of the voicemail systemintercepts a call from the communication system 101. The controller 102can be programmed, for example, to intercept a call intended for an enduser of a communication device 108 after a number of unanswered rings(such as four or six rings). When the controller 102 detects in step 304that the calling party is on a list of callers to be prevented fromstoring voicemails, the controller 102 can proceed to either of theembodiments of steps 306 or 308. This list of callers can be created bythe end user of the targeted communication device 108 as will beillustrated in FIG. 4.

In step 306 the controller 102 can be programmed to prevent thepresentation of the voicemail process to the caller. Thus, the callermay, for example, hear indefinite rings, or a limited number of ringswithout a voicemail introductory message. Alternatively, in step 308 thecontroller 102 can allow the caller to leave voicemail, butautomatically deletes the voice message upon delivery without theknowledge of the caller. This latter method provides a less obviousmeans to prevent voicemail messages.

If the caller is not prevented from leaving voicemail messages,. Thecontroller 102 proceeds to step 310 where it stores the voicemailmessage of the caller according to predetermined preferences. Thepredetermined preferences can be established by the end user of eachcommunication device 108 and/or the service provider of the voicemailsystem 100 by common means such as an IVR system or web interfaceoperating in the voicemail system 100. These preferences can, forexample, be used to prioritize callers by order of importance (e.g.,urgent, high, medium, and low), and/or for grouping callers by class(business, personal). Other preferences can be established, such as forinstance, submitting a page (e.g., SMS—short message system) to an enduser when receiving critical voice messages.

Once the messages have been prioritized by the preferences, thecontroller 102 proceeds to step 312 where it creates a preview of eachvoicemail message. The preview can be a voice preview (e.g., the first 5seconds of the voicemail), or a text preview. In the latter embodiment,the controller 102 can be programmed to synthesize in step 314 theportion of the voicemail message into text using common voice-to-texttranslation technologies. In step 316, the controller 102 transmits tothe targeted communication device 108 a log of the voicemail messagesthus received and prioritized according to the preferences of step 310.Additionally, the controller 102 transmits in this step the voicemailmessage previews (in voice and/or text).

The communication device 108 can in turn respond with a request in step318 to delete a selection of voicemail messages. This deletion requestoccurs without the end user of the communication device 108 having toprocess the voicemail messages (such as by listening to each message) inorder to delete them. In addition to the deletion request, thecontroller 102 can receive in this step a request to prevent furthervoicemail messages from a set of calling numbers identified by the enduser of the communication device 108. In step 320 the selected voicemailmessages are deleted without the end user having to listen to them byway of the voicemail system 100. Additionally, in this step thecontroller 102 stores the select calling numbers for use in steps304-308 to prevent voicemail messages from the selected callers.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart that mirrors some of the functions discussedin method 300. Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 operatingin the communication device 108 according to teachings of the presentdisclosure. Method 400 begins with step 402 where the controller 114 ofthe communication device 108 is programmed to receive the log ofvoicemail messages prioritized according to the preferences of step 310with corresponding previews. In step 404 the controller 114 determinesif the previews are voice or text. If they are voice samples, in asupplemental embodiment the controller 114 can be programmed tosynthesize in step 406 said voice previews into text utilizing commonvoice-to-text synthesis technology.

In step 408, the controller 114 presents the voicemail log and previewson the UI element 204. The voicemail logs can comprise the caller ID ofthe calling party with an indication (e.g., an icon) depicting anassociated voicemail message stored in the voicemail system 100 by thecaller. The log and previews can be presented as audible messagesconveyed by the audio system 208. That is, the end user can, forexample, request the controller 114 to audibly describe the log by wayof a synthesized text-to-voice application that reads out the caller IDand an indication that a corresponding voicemail message has beenreceived from the caller. The end user can further request thecontroller 114 by voice command to play the preview voicemail messageassociated with a caller ID.

For communication devices 108 with a display 210, the controller 102 canconvey visual images of text associated with the caller ID, and a symbolor icon to indicate whether the caller has left a voicemail message. Theend user can request by voice command or by a keypad 206 entry (having,for example, a navigation disk and selection button) an audible playbackof the preview voicemail message of a particular caller ID. If thepreview voicemail message has been synthesized into text by thevoicemail system 100 (step 314) or the communication device 108 (in step406), then the end user can simply visualize the preview message on thedisplay 210.

The foregoing embodiments of step 408 do not require the communicationdevice 108 to interact with the voicemail system 100 during the reviewprocess. That is, the end user can manage voicemail messages in the logwithout the help of the voicemail system 100. Thus, the end user canselect in step 410 by way of the keypad 206, or by voice command, anumber of voicemail messages to delete without ever listening to thefull extent of the voicemail message as conveyed by the voicemail system100 under normal circumstances. In response to the selection process,the controller 114 receives in step 412 the end user's selection of oneor more voicemail message for deletion. Additionally, the controller 114can receive in step 414 a selection of one or more corresponding callingnumbers to prevent further voicemails. These selections are transmittedin step 416 to the voicemail system 100. The voicemail system 100 inresponse deletes the selected voicemail messages in step 320 withoutfurther interaction from the end user, and programs the voicemail system100 to prevent in steps 304-308 further voicemail messages from theselected calling numbers.

It would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that theforegoing embodiments for methods 300 and 400 can be modified withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the claims described below. Forinstance, the voicemail blocking features described in steps 304-308,and 414-416 can be removed while remaining within the operational boundsof said claims. Accordingly, attention should be given to the claims todetermine the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system 500 within which a set of instructions, when executed,may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as astandalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected(e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment,the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client usermachine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machinein a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine maycomprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer(PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a controlsystem, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a deviceof the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device thatprovides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a singlemachine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken toinclude any collection of machines that individually or jointly executea set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more ofthe methodologies discussed herein.

The computer system 500 may include a processor 502 (e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a mainmemory 504 and a static memory 506, which communicate with each othervia a bus 508. The computer system 500 may further include a videodisplay unit 510 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, asolid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system500 may include an input device 512 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 514 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 516, a signal generationdevice 518 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 520.

The disk drive unit 516 may include a machine-readable medium 522 onwhich is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software 524)embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions describedherein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions 524may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the mainmemory 504, the static memory 506, and/or within the processor 502during execution thereof by the computer system 500. The main memory 504and the processor 502 also may constitute machine-readable media.Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatusand systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety ofelectronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions intwo or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices withrelated control and data signals communicated between and through themodules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit.Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, andhardware implementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein are intended for operation as software programsrunning on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementationscan include, but not limited to, distributed processing orcomponent/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtualmachine processing can also be constructed to implement the methodsdescribed herein.

The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containinginstructions 524, or that which receives and executes instructions 524from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a networkenvironment 526 can send or receive voice, video or data, and tocommunicate over the network 526 using the instructions 524. Theinstructions 524 may further be transmitted or received over a network526 via the network interface device 520.

While the machine-readable medium 522 is shown in an example embodimentto be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should betaken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralizedor distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) thatstore the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readablemedium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by themachine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure.

The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken toinclude, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memorycard or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile)memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile)memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; andcarrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions ina transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail orother self-contained information archive or set of archives isconsidered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storagemedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one ormore of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listedherein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, inwhich the software implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodicallysuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Otherembodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structuraland logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representationaland may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may beexaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, thespecification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred toherein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merelyfor convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope ofthis application to any single invention or inventive concept if morethan one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments havebeen illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it can be seen that various features are grouped togetherin a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure.This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the claimed embodiments require more features than areexpressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claimsreflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of asingle disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separately claimed subject matter.

1. A voicemail system, comprising: a communications interface; and acontroller for managing operations of the communications interface,programmed to: store voicemail messages corresponding to a communicationdevice; transmit a log of the voicemail messages to the communicationdevice; and receive from the communication device a request to delete avoicemail message selectively chosen from a user interface correspondingto the voicemail log.
 2. The voicemail system of claim 1, wherein thecontroller is programmed to transmit to the communication device apreview of each voicemail message in the log.
 3. The voicemail system ofclaim 2, wherein the controller is programmed to: translate a portion ofeach voicemail message in the log to synthesized text; and transmit tothe communication device the synthesized text for previewing eachvoicemail message in the log.
 4. The voicemail system of claim 2,wherein the controller is programmed to transmit to the communicationdevice a voice preview of each voicemail message in the log.
 5. Thevoicemail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:store voicemail messages according to predetermined preferences; andtransmit to the communication device the log of voicemail messagesaccording to the predetermined preferences.
 6. The voicemail system ofclaim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to: receive one or morecalling numbers from the communication device; and prevent voicemailsmessage entries associated with the one or more calling numbers.
 7. Thevoicemail system of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:receive one or more calling numbers from the communication device; anddelete voicemails message entries associated with the one or morecalling numbers.
 8. A communication device, comprising: a user interface(UI) element; a transceiver for exchanging messages with a communicationsystem; and a controller for managing operations of the UI element andthe transceiver, wherein the controller is programmed to: receive a logof voicemail messages stored in a voicemail system; present the log toan end user; receive from the end user a selection of a voicemailmessage from the log for deletion; and transmit to the voicemail systema request to delete the selected voicemail message without listening tosaid voicemail message.
 9. The communication device of claim 8, whereinthe controller is programmed to receive from the voicemail system apreview of each voicemail message in the log.
 10. The communicationdevice of claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to: receive fromthe voicemail system a portion of each voicemail message in the log assynthesized text; and present to the end user the synthesized text ofeach voicemail message in the log for previewing.
 11. The communicationdevice of claim 9, wherein the controller is programmed to receive fromthe voicemail system a voice preview of each voicemail message in thelog.
 12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the controller isprogrammed to synthesize the voice preview of each voicemail message totext; and convey to the end user the synthesized text of each voicemailmessage in the log for previewing.
 13. The communication device of claim8, wherein the controller is programmed to: receive from the voicemailsystem the log of voicemail messages according to the predeterminedpreferences; and convey to the end user the log according to thepredetermined preferences.
 14. The communication device of claim 8,wherein the controller is programmed to: receive a selection of one ormore calling numbers corresponding to one or more voicemail messages inthe log; and transmit to the voicemail system the selection of one ormore calling numbers for preventing voicemails message entriescorresponding to said selection.
 15. The communication device of claim8, wherein UI element comprises at least one among a display forconveying images or text, an audio system for exchanging audiblemessages with the end user, and a keypad.
 16. The communication deviceof claim 8, wherein transceiver comprises at least one among a wirelesstransceiver and a wireline transceiver.
 17. A method, comprisingselectively deleting a voicemail message in a voicemail system from avoicemail log in a communication device.
 18. The method of claim 17,comprising transmitting, from the voicemail system to the communicationdevice, a preview of each voicemail message in the log.
 19. The methodof claim 18, comprising the steps of: translating, at the voicemailsystem, a portion of each voicemail message in the log to synthesizedtext; and transmitting, from the voicemail system to the communicationdevice, the synthesized text for previewing each voicemail message inthe log.
 20. The method of claim 17, comprising the steps of: receiving,at the voicemail system from the communication device, one or morecalling numbers corresponding to one or more voicemail entries in thelog; and preventing, at the voicemail system, storage of voicemailsmessage entries associated with the one or more calling numbers.
 21. Acomputer-readable storage medium in a voicemail system, comprisingcomputer instructions for deleting a voicemail message in response to arequest received from a communication device to delete said voicemailmessage selectively chosen from a user interface corresponding to avoicemail log.
 22. A computer-readable storage medium in a communicationdevice, comprising computer instructions for transmitting to a voicemailsystem a request to delete a voicemail message selectively chosen from auser interface corresponding to a voicemail log without listening tosaid voicemail message.